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Issue: "101"
Section:
ID: "4"
SName: "General"
url: "general"
SOrder: "1"
Content: " \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n "
ID: "11"
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\r\n
\r\n | \r\n QURAN \r\n \r\n |
Translation:
\r\n"So \r\n either kill Joseph or cast him into some distant land so \r\n that your father's attention may become exclusively yours. \r\n And after so doing become righteous."
\r\n[Al-Quran- \r\n Sura Yusuf 12: 9]
\r\nTafseer:
\r\n Background:
\r\n
\r\n \r\n
This verse is part of \r\n the conversation Prophet Joseph's (Yusuf) brothers were \r\n having when they were plotting to get rid of him out of \r\n jeolousy. [For details on the whole incident read Sura Yusuf \r\n (12)]
\r\n Lessons:
\r\n - \r\n
- This statement reflects \r\n the psychological make-up of those who, even when they \r\n vigorously pursue their desires, still make an effort \r\n to maintain some relationship with faith and righteousness. \r\n
- Such people seem to have \r\n a peculiar way of 'balancing' their responses to the demands \r\n of righteousness on the one hand, and of self-indulgence \r\n and selfishness on the other. \r\n
- When they are under strong \r\n pressure from their lusts, they go ahead and commit an \r\n evil act, ignoring the demands of faith temporarily. However, \r\n as soon as they feel pangs of guilt, they try to assure conscience, \r\n thinking that what they had committed was merely a small \r\n act of sinning; that this sin was inevitable in order \r\n to achieve an important purpose. \r\n
- They further assure their \r\n conscience that it will not be long before they repent \r\n and revert to their original righteousness. But how \r\n can one think of killing someone on one hand, \r\n and still feel he is righteous? \r\n
\r\n
\r\n [Compiled from "Towards \r\n Understanding the Quran", by S. Abul Ala \r\n Maududi, vol. IV]
\r\n | \r\n 6 \r\n THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR ISLAM IN 2001 \r\n \r\n |
continued from issue \r\n # 99....
\r\n 3. \r\n MAKE YOUR MUSLIM ORGANIZATIONS MORE OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND \r\n ACCOUNTABILITY
\r\n Have things \r\n been running the same way for years at your local Islamic \r\n center? You know, disorganized, or closed off, with a couple \r\n of people having the only say in all matters?
\r\n Many, many \r\n Masjids and Islamic centers lack management and organizational \r\n skills. They are run by an elite group of people who make \r\n all of the decisions without proper consultation with the \r\n community. They are also not held accountable for what they \r\n do or how the money coming into the Masjid or organization \r\n is spent. This doesn't mean that everything they are doing \r\n is wrong. But there needs to be a more transparent and open \r\n system that will benefit all Muslims in the community, the \r\n male and the female, the young and the old, the immigrant \r\n and the Muslim born in America, etc.
\r\n You can \r\n help start the process of change. This, of course, has to \r\n be done with plenty of wisdom and patience. But you and \r\n others will benefit from working to make your Islamic organization \r\n more open and accountable to the community.
\r\n To be continued \r\n in the next issue....
\r\n [Taken from www.SoundVision.com] \r\n
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\r\n
\r\n | \r\n Hadith \r\n \r\n |
...And \r\n Allah will Love you!
\r\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n The \r\n Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon \r\n him) said:
\r\n "Do \r\n not covet this world, and Allah will love you; do not covet \r\n what other people possess, and people will love you." \r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n (Collected \r\n by Al-Bukhari)
\r\n \r\n
\r\n [Lessons:This is \r\n what the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in reply to a Companion \r\n who requested the Prophet (pbuh) to tell him of some \r\n deeds which will make him earn the love of Allah, as well \r\n as that of other people. Unfortunately, today the only \r\n thing we worry about is: WHATELSE do our friends and neighbors \r\n have?! This Hadith, however, doesn't mean that we shouldn't \r\n enjoy the 'good things of this world'. Rather we should \r\n work hard for them because nothing good comes without genuine \r\n effort. The Prophet informed us that wealth can also \r\n serve to increase our Taqwa (Allah-Consciousness): \r\n 'What a good helper is wealth in maintaining God-Consciousness.' \r\n (Kanzul-Ummal.) Thus, all the good things in life \r\n must be pursued, but not the love of this world. \r\n It is not the amount of money that you possess which matters \r\n in the eyes of Allah. Rather. He wants you to rid yourself of \r\n the LOVE for that money! If you earn \r\n $10 and give $5 in charity, this is much more precious in \r\n the sight of Allah than someone who earns $ 100,000 \r\n and gives $1,000. The first one has sacrificed half \r\n of his wealth and other one has given one-hundredth \r\n of what he has earned. Therefore, Sacrificing everything \r\n in Allah's way, is the true prescription for gaining \r\n Allah's love, as well the love of the people of this world- \r\n who can easily sense sincerity and unselfishness \r\n in such a person.]
\r\n \r\n
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\r\n
\r\n | \r\n Reflections \r\n on Tazkiya and Self-Development \r\n \r\n |
Tazkiya- \r\n Your Personal Responsibility!
\r\n \r\n
\r\n As \r\n you proceed on your journey along the new path, in your \r\n quest of the ultimate goal of Paradise, you will encounter \r\n difficulties and hardships. These may often seem insurmountable. \r\n Overcoming them may be made easier by a good early grasp \r\n of the following prerequisites of Tazkiya: \r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n 1- \r\n Tazkiya- Your Personal Responsibility: \r\n
\r\n \r\n
\r\n You \r\n must accept that Tazkiya is a highly personal process and \r\n that it demands taking personal responsibility for carrying \r\n it forward. You can only see the results of Tazkiya through \r\n your own realization, your own personal efforts, and your \r\n own exertions. No one else can purify your heart or soul \r\n for you. No organization, no leader, and no teacher can \r\n replace your own responsibility. God says, "And no \r\n bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden; \r\n and if one, weighed down by his load, calls upon (another) \r\n to help him carry it, nothing thereof may be carried (by \r\n that other), even if it be one's near of kin." [Sura \r\n Al-Fatir 35:18.]
\r\n \r\n
\r\n This \r\n sense of personal responsibility is basic to the whole purpose \r\n and approach of Islam. Ultimately, we are judged individually \r\n for discharging our own responsibilities. Some people allow \r\n themselves to be dictated by others. The Quran states that \r\n the weak will say on the Day of Judgment that they were \r\n forced into following the dictates of others, but Allah \r\n will reply that the excuse is not legitimate because the \r\n decision to deviate from the Straight Path was their own. \r\n Even Shaytan (Satan) will not take the blame for \r\n trapping us into evil!
\r\n \r\n
\r\n Taking \r\n charge of your own affairs may certainly seem a daunting \r\n task, but one which you will accomplish with distinction \r\n if you appreciate and take advantage of the human potential \r\n Allah has blessed you with.
\r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n To be continued \r\n in the next issue....
\r\n \r\n [Taken from "In the Early \r\n Hours" by Ustadh Khurram Murad (Rahimahullah), \r\n edited by Riza Mohammed]
\r\n [A book review of "In the Early \r\n Hours" is available at: http://www.youngmuslims.ca/bookreview/default.asp] \r\n
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